BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY, COIMBATORE

BENEVOLENT ACADEMY

#25, Sri Nagar, Hope College, Peelamedu (PO), Coimbatore – 641004.Ph: +91422-4521607, Cell: +91-9787731607, 9787701067/9787701068. Web:www.benevolentacademy.com.E-Mail:admin@benevolentacademy.com

Dated 23.11.2018

TODAY’S IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS

(PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) UPSC - IAS|IPS|IFS

In news: Role of non-state actors and women’s movement against the felling of

trees in Jhinkargadi forest

Exam point of view : Part of Environment and Ecology concerns

Odisha Chief Minister cancelled the setting up of a brewery plant in Dhenkanal district where

hundreds of trees were felled despite strong protests by the villagers.

The government took the decision following a massive public outcry against the felling of trees

and maintaining the ecological balance.

The brewery plant (₹102-crore project, which was to be set up by P&A Bottlers Private Limited)

was to come up on 12 acres of forestland in Jhinkargadi.

Note: The movement is in same lines of Chipko movement, a non-violent agitation in 1973 that

was aimed at protection and conservation of trees.

BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY, COIMBATORE

In news Solar Bubble Dryer

Exam point of view : Part of: Role of Technology in Agriculture sector

Innovative crop drying technology – Solar Bubble Dryer – was demonstrated for the first

time in Odisha.

Solar Bubble Dryer – developed jointly by International Rice Research Institute, Philippines;

Grainpro, a leading post-harvest solution providing company; and University of Hohenheim,

Germany.

The SBD is a low-cost drying technology that aims to provide a simple and flexible

alternative to sun-drying, while protecting from spillage, animals, weather and vehicles

running over the grains.

The quantitative loss in traditional sun-drying method is estimated to be in the range

of 15 to 30% between harvesting and milling. Due to quality loss, farmer do not get proper

price of their produce.

BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY, COIMBATORE

TODAY’S IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS

TNPSC | BANK | SSC | RRB

Indian Navy has issued the Letter of Request (LoR) to the U.S., under the Foreign Military

Sales (FMS) route, for the purchase of 24 MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) in a deal

estimated at $2bn. This is among a series of defence procurements and inductions from the

U.S. and Russia in the last two months. The Navy is presently facing a critical shortage of

helicopters and several frontline warships are plying with empty helicopter decks. These

helicopters are being procured as a replacement for 15 Sea King ASW helicopters de-

inducted from service in 1991 and one Sea King 42B MRH lost in an accident. The current

MRHs in service, Sea King 42Bs, were inducted in the 1980s.

Swami Vigyananda launches Hindu Economic Forum in New Zealand

Open Forum at International Film Festival of India to begin in Goa

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore today inaugurated

a multi-media digital exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi at the International Film festival of

India (IFFI) in Panaji, Goa. Titled “Mahatma on Celluloid”, the exhibition provides a state-of-

the-art digital experience to the viewers who can relive the life and times of Mahatma, and

draw inspiration from his ideas and work.

Wasim Jaffer becomes first Indian to touch 11,000-run milestone in Ranji Trophy

Jammu and Kashmir governor dissolved the State Assembly

The changes were done after representatives from 60 countries voted to redefine the

International System of Units (SI) for weight, current, temperature and amount of chemical

substance. This decision was made at the General Conference on Weights and Measures,

held from November 13-16 2018, in Versailles, France, organized by the International Bureau

of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France. Now, all SI units will be defined in terms of

constants that describe the natural world. The changes will come into effect on May 20,

2019.

Interpol elected South Korean Kim Jong-yang as Next President

[AP THOMAS]